Month: December 2017

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and so are the outfits – Ahh! But don’t stress, because honestly this year has been stressful enough on its own! So if you’re looking for some last minute inspiration for the your NYE look, I’ve got you! Whether you’re planning on ringing in 2018 at a fancy event or even a more casual get together, these Simply Be looks are sure to be a hit! And the best part? These looks can be easily re-accessorized for your next event!

Color pop!

An obvious way to stand out this NYE is to wear a bright fun color! Gem tones like purple and turquoise are always a hit! And bright metallics are a welcomed addition to any celebration. My absolute favorite color to wear is red, so I decided to go with this Simply Be LRD, or Little Red Dress! There’s a shade of red out there for everyone. And not only does it make you feel sexy, it comes in handy on so many occasions! I love the crossover halter neckline and the fit of the body. This is the kind of dress that’s totally worth wearing a strapless bra for!

Texture, texture, texture!

Nothing screams “Too glam to give a damn” like a floor length sequin, tiered tassel dress! I’m not exaggerating at all when I say that I felt like royalty the whole time I was wearing this! The detailed beading, sequins, and layering make this dress so much fun to wear! Pair this dress with some sky high heels and you’ll be ready to twirl and strut your stuff around the whole night!

Make a statement with fur!

Bring on the fur! I personally think every girl deserves a (faux) fur coat in her closet. It is a tried and true way to bring instant glam to even your most simple jeans and lace cami top! I’m a big fan of this Simply Be blush pink coat because it’s neutral enough to style several ways, but it’s still a big statement! This coat will definitely keep you warm whether you’re walking to your next NYE party location or just to and from your car any time in the next month. Seriously, stay warm out there! Brrr!

I hope all of you are having an amazing holiday season so far! It’s a couple days after Christmas and for those of you who celebrated… how was your Christmas?! I had an exceptionally fun and easy Christmas this year. I spent the early morning opening gifts (I definitely scored!) and the rest of the day cooking with my mom! Then the whole family got together for dinner and watched our favorite Christmas movie: Diehard lol! I’m not a natural gift giver or receiver. I always feel weird about it and somehow make things awkward or blow the surprise. It’s not my love language, BUT quality time most definitely is and I look forward to Christmas every year for that exact reason! But that is not what this post is about!

I want to share my favorite items from the ASOS Beauty Advent Calendar! Y’all know what an advent calendar is all about, right? There’s twenty five little gifts inside and you are supposed to open one each day from Dec 1st to Dec 25th. I obviously don’t have the patience for that; because in true Alex fashion, I opened all 25 on day one. Oops! I already told you that I’m bad with gifts (and pretty much with rules in general). So sorry, not sorry? Do the cool kids still say that? The calendar had a nice mix of skincare, makeup, hair, and body products; and I really appreciated the size of the samples! I’m happy that I opened the whole calendar, because I was able to test the products throughout the month and share my favorites with all of you!

Links to shop are listed below!

My Top 5:

If you would’ve asked me beforehand which kind of beauty products I was most excited about, my answer would have definitely been makeup. But my favorite products are the skincare! One thing that stands out right away are the two different cleansers. I personally don’t use cleanser in the morning, because I have super dry skin; so I use these cleansers at night. DHC deep cleansing oil ($$) is perfect for removing makeup and cleansing on a good/dry skin day. But even with my dry skin, I get bad breakouts during my period. That’s when I use the REN T-Zone Control cleansing gel ($$)! I’m so in love with the Alpha-H Liquid Gold ($$$).This glycolic acid treatment goes on every other night after cleanser and works to revitalize and firm your skin. It’s like a mini facial in a bottle and it didn’t dry out my skin – major win! I was surprised by The Ordinary surface hydrating moisturizer ($). To be honest, it doesn’t have that spa/lux feeling when you first apply the product. But the moisture lasts all day and my makeup sat so well on this formula that I had to add it to the top five. The Cowshed lippy cow balm ($$) is my favorite product from the whole calendar! My lips chap like no other! Cracking, peeling, chapped lips are usually an annual shame that I go through every fall and winter, but Chowshed has completely alleviated this problem! I am so hype about it too! I’ve used the balm on my lips, of course, but also on dry patches around my nose and chin. I cannot recommend this product enough! Hello new skincare routine! I will definitely be purchasing all of these items again!

Rodial – Stem Cell Magic Gel: ($$$) This product felt amazing! Apply more product and you can use it overnight as a sleeping mask! This sample was pretty small, so I was only able to use it twice.

Thank you ASOS Beauty for helping me celebrate the holidays! The calendar was so much fun and the introduction to these amazing products was the perfect gift! And thank you to all of my readers! I appreciate that you spent these last few moments with me!

The holidays are here and I am finally feeling it this year! With moving across the country and apartment searching, I haven’t been prioritizing my usual holiday activities, like watching Elf on repeat for 25 days straight or dressing up my dog in festive outfits or drinking several almond milk peppermint lattes a day. But I’m making up for lost time and my friends at Macy’s are helping me do it! I’ve partnered with Macy’s to show you how I get my wardrobe holiday ready with embellished classic pieces that will elevate your tried and true outfits!

When I think of a classic wardrobe staple that we can elevate for the holidays, the first thing I think of is the LBD – Little Black Dress! This City Chic dress is the perfect LBD that has all the charm necessary for your next holiday party! Can you really go wrong with lace? I don’t think so! The lace overlay gives a subtle sexiness that is perfect for a night out but also cut long enough to be family friendly. One thing that made me instantly love this dress was the burgundy embroidered detailing – a trend that carried over from summer. I added this matching burgundy Kate Spade clutch to give the outfit an extra pop of color!

I don’t know about you, but I am a jeans and cute top girl just as much as I am a LBD girl! Sometimes the idea of putting on a dress, shaving my legs, and subjecting myself to those disrespectfully cold breezes that always make it up my skirt is just too much for me! I’ll opt for that jeans and a tee vibe any day! These Celebrity Pink faux-leather skinny jeans and City Chic bell sleeved top are the perfect pair for a holiday outfit that looks chic and polished, but feels more casual and comfy! (Quick tip: Add a leather detail to any outfit to instantly elevate the look) I think that if you’re gonna rock the jeans and top look to your next holiday party, the best way to ensure you’re dressed to impress is to give special attention to your accessories! I decided to wear these sexy Nine West pumps and a crystal choker to give my outfit that added touch of glamour.

I absolutely love these two embellished holiday looks! I hope you do too! All of the items in this post are available at Macy’s! Happy holidays! And, as always, thank you for reading!